Circuit-controlling device.



E. JOHNSON. 011mm CONTROLLING DEVICE. APlfLIOATION FILED APR.13. 1906.937,442, Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

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h v mp E. JOHNSON. OIROUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILEDAPB..18, 1906.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H3 LU ,WITNESSES- WQ dG E. JOHNSON.

GIRGUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE. APPLIQATION FILED APR.13, 1900.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

L lllm mmurni'nimifiglmw Illllll IHI in tripping the circuit-breakervopen,

. of breaks in the circuit in series nrrn snares r EDWIN JOHNSON, FSCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC I COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Patented eat. as, race.

Application filed April 13, 1908. Serial No. 311,408.

. Controlling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device-for controlling electric circuits inwhich a number are closed, one after the other, and one of the devicesfor controlling said breaks is arranged to be.

opened automatically in case an overload exists upon the circuit. Themeans for controlling .the breaks may be an automatic circuit-breakerand a switch connected in series upon the switch-board; when theattendant desires to close the, circuit .the circuit-breaker is firstset and the switch is then closed. ltn case an overload exists upon thecircuit the circuit-breaker will open automatically; thus.

the circuit and translating devices therein are protected from dangerousconditions, as

the circuit is automatically broken notwithstanding the operator isholding the control,

handle of the circuit-breaker, and at the same time errors ofmanipulation are avoided.

This invention consists in providing a controllin device operating inthe manner above escribed and requiring but little room upon theswitch-board and arranged to be easily set by the operator by means of asin gle handle.

It also conslsts'in providing me ans whereby an attempt to open theswitch will result so that the circuit is always opened very quickly,thereby avoiding the formation of arcs by the slow opening of theswitch.

The object of the presentinvention is to provide a com act arrangementfor controllingthe circuit, which may be operated by one handle; to setthe circuit-breaking device by a movement of the operating handle in onedirection and to close the switch bya movement of said handle in anotherdirection; to prevent opening the circuit by means of the switch; and toimprove the construction and operation of devices of this typegenerally. 7

The invention will best be understood in connection with theaccompanyingdrawings in which Figure 1 is a lan view of the device applied to aswitc h-board; Fig. 2 is an end view of the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig.3 is a section of Fig. 1 on line 3, 3, looklng 1n the direction of thearrows; Fi 4 is a section on the line 4, 4, of Fig. 1; Flg. 5 is asection on the line 5, 5, of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a view of thepower-multiplying means for o the contacts; Fig. 7 is a plan view'o amodified form of this device; Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. -7 Fig. 9 isa wow of part of Fig. 7 and Fig. 10 is a view of the tripping mechanismof Fig. 8.

The device. is preferably arranged upon a switch-board 1 of slate orother insulating material such as is commonly used in the art. Fixedcontacts 2, 3, 4 and 5 are firmly secured to the switch-board. by meansof nuts threaded upon the stems of said contacts. The contacts 2 and 3are arranged one above the other and the contacts 5 and 4are similarlyarranged parallel-to the contacts 2 and 3. A bridging contact 6,preferably made in the form of a laminated brush so as to be capable ofyielding under pressure, en ages the contacts 2 and 3-, and a similarbri ging contact? engages the fixed contacts 4 and 5.

The fixed contacts 2 and 5 carry shunt .con-

tactsl 8 and 10, while the bridging contacts 6 and 7 carry shuntcontacts 9 and 11 cooperating with the shunt contacts 8 and 10. Theshunt contacts, preferably made of carbon, are carried uponspring-blades and do not separate until the bridging contacts are out ofengagement with the fixed contacts, so that the final arc is formebetween the carbon surfaces of the shunt contacts. A barrier 11 ofinsulating material is mounted between the two series of fixed contactsto prevent an are forming from one set of fixed contacts to the other.

Brackets 12 and 13 are secured to the switch-board 1 and form thesupport of the operating parts of the device. The outer ends of thesebrackets carry a rod 14 which forms an abutment or support for the meansfor closing the switches and also holds the outer ends of thebrackets inproper relation to each other. A rod 15, extending from one bracket tothe other is firmly secured thereto and forms the pivot .upon which therockarms carry the bridging contacts 6 and 7, which are ivoted to theupper ends thereof. The bridging contact 6 is brought into en-.

erating arms 16 and 17 are mounted; these rocki so the fixed contactsand 3. The toggle link gagement with the fixed. contacts 2 and 3 bymeans or a power-multiplying device, preferably in the form of a togglehaving links 18 and 19, while the bridging contact 7 is brought intoengagement with. the fixed contacts 4 and 5 by means of a similarpowermultiplying device comprising a toggle having links 20 and 21. Theends of the links 19 and 21 of these toggles are supported upon the rod14, while the other ends of these links are pivoted to the links 18 and20, which in turn are pivoted to the rock-arms l6 and 17. An operatinghandle 22 is also mounted upon the rod 14 for the purpose or"straightening the toggles and bringing the bridging contacts intoengagement with the fixed contacts.

An overload coil 23, mounted upon the switch-board, has an armature 24,mounted upon a pivot 25, and adjusted by a set-screw 26. A trip pin-27is loosely mounted. in guides upon the end of the overload coil inposition to be engaged by the armature 24. When the armature 24 isattracted by the overload coil the end strikes the trip pin 27 and movesit upward to trip the device and open the circuit. The current in thecircuit to be controlled comes in through the fixed contact 2, passesthrough the bridging contact 6, to the fixed contact 3, thence throughthe overload coil, to the fixed contact 4, fixed contact 5, and back tothe line.

A sleeve 28, to which theoperating handle 22 is firmly attached, isloosely mounted upon the pin 14. This sleeve carries a projectingshoulder 29, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, and also carries a lug 30, asshown in Figs. 2 and 4. A sleeve 31 is also loosely mounted upon the pin14 and is provided with a shoulder 32 corresponding to the shoulder 29of the sleeve These sleeves are of such a length that endwise movementon the pin 14 is prevented by engagement of the ends of the sleeves withthe brackets 12 and 13. The sleeve 28 carries the toggle links 19 whichare rigidly secured to said sleeve, while the sleeve 31 carries thetoggle links 21 firmly attached thereto. The shoulders 29 and 32 do notengage with each other when both bridging contacts are in engagementwith the fixed contacts, but there is a certain amount of lost-motionbetween said shoulders, which form a lost-motion connection betweenthe'sleeves 28 and 31.

The link 18 is provided with astop 33 which engages with the support forthe bridging contact 6 and thereby locks the toggle 18, 19, in anoverset. position when the bridging contact 6 is in engagement with 20is provided with a corresponding stop 34 which engages'the support ofthe bridging contact 7 when the bridging contact is in engagement withthe fixed contacts and through the bridging contact 7 to the the toggle20, 21, is nearly straight, to hold the toggle in a slightly undersetposition. The link 20 is also provided with a toe 35, engaged by a latch36 mounted upon a pivot 37, carried by the rock-arm 17 the toggle 20,21, is held extended, but will collapse as soon as the latch 36 releasesthe toe 35. On the end of the latch is mounted a lug 38 carried upon aspring-blade 39 in such position as to be engaged by the lug 30 upon thesleeve 28 when the latch is in position to lock the bridging contact 7in engagement with the fixed contacts.

It is evident from the foregoing description that the bridging contact7, the toggle 20, 21, the latch 36, and the overload coil 23 form anautomatic circuit-breaker which will be tripped open in case or" anoverload upon the circuit, while the bridging contact 6 and the toggle18, 19, form a switch which may be closed or opened by means of theoperating handle 22.

A modified form of this device is disclosed in Figs. 7- and 8 in whichfixed contacts 40, 41, 42 and 43 are mounted in a vertical line, oneabove the other and engaged by bridging contacts 6 and 7 similar instructure to the bridging contacts used in a similar device disclosed inFigs. 1 and 2. The bridging contact 7 is provided with shunt contacts '8and 9. The bridging contact 6 is carried upon a rock-arm 44, and thebridging contact 7 upon a rock-arm 45. Brackets 46 and 47 are secured tothe switch-board 1 and in the outer ends of these brackets is can ried arod 48. The brackets also carry rods 49 and .50, the rod 49 forming apivot for the rock-arm 44, while the rod 50 forms a pivot in therock-arm 45. The bridging contact 6 is moved into engagement with thefixed contacts by means of a power-multiplying device formed of togglelinks 51 and 52,

while the bridging contact 7 is controlled by a power-multiplying deviceformed of the toggle links 53 and 54. When these toggles arestraightened, the bridging contacts are brought intofirm engagement withthe fixed contacts.

An operating handle 55 is firmly attached to a sleeve 56 loosely mountedupon the rod 48. This sleeve is provided with shoulders 56 and carries atoggle link 52 and a lug 64. 0n each side of the sleeve 56, sleeves 57and 58 are loosely mounted on the rod 48. These sleeves are providedwith shoulders 57 and 58 which coiiperate with the shoulders 56 Sleeves57 and 58 carry the toggle links 54, the ends of which are held togetherand are connected to the link 53 by means of a pin 59 passing throughthe link 53 and engaging both toggle links 54. The link 53 is providedwith a toe 60 which is engaged, when the toggle is nearly straightenedout but is still underset, by a latch 61 mounted upon a pivot 65. Theend senate of thislatch carriesa spring-blade62 upon which is mountedalug 63, engaging and cooperatingwith the lug 64: on the sleeve 56.

The latch v61 is held in engaging position bya .calibratingxlever 66mounted [upon a pivot stud .67 carried .by the bracket 46. One end ofthe calibrating lever engages the latch and the other end engages acalibrating spring 68, the tension of which'may be .variedlby means ofan, adjusting screw 69.. Thelateh 61*is in the form of a bellcranklever, onearm of the lever forming a hookengaging the toe 60, whiletheother arm is theaarmature of an overload coil 70 mountedv u on theswitch-board -1. The overload coil 70 is included in series in thecircuit and. current entering through the fixed contacts 40 flowsthrough the bridgin contact 6, through the fixed contact 41, an thencethrough the overload .coil 70- to the fixed contact 42, throughthe-bridging conti'act 7 to the fixed contact 43 and back to the Theoperation of the device is as follows When the circuit is open the partsare in the position. shown in Fig. 6.1 It will be noted -.in Fig.6 thatthe to .gle 20, 21, of thecircuit-breaker bears sue a relation to thetoggle =18, 19, of the switch that it is necessary to move these tog lesin opposite-directions inorderto straig ten them. The shoulder move awayfrom the shoulder 32. handle is moved in the opposite direction the bnng 32 of the sleeve 31, which carries one of the links of the toggle foroperating the circuitbreaker, is in engagement with the shoulder 29"ofthe sleeve 28 to which the operating handle 22 is connected. In order toclose the circuit, the handle is moved in the direction of the arrow ain Fig. 5. As a result of the engagement of shoulder 29.with theshoulder 32 the sleeve 31 is rotated on the pin 14: and the toggle20,21, straightens, bringing the bridging-contact 7 into engagement withthe fixed contacts 4 and When the toggle is nearly straightened, but isstill underset, the shoulder 34 engages the support ofthe bridgingcontact 7, thereby preventing the toggle being overset, and at thesametime the latch 36engages the toe 35, looking the circuit breakerclosed. During this movement the bridging contact 6 has been swungfarther away from the fixed contacts owing to the fact that as thetoggle 20, 21, closes, the toggle18,"19, opens. The direction ofmovement of the handle is now reversed, but this reversal does notafiect the toggle 20, 21, as the. lost-motion connection. betweenthesleeves 28 and 31permits the shouldegx29 0 from that shown by the arrowa in Fig. 5, the tog le 1-8, 19 is straightened, bringing contact 6 intooperative engagement wlth the fixed contacts 2 and 3.

he stop 33 engages the supporting means of the bridgingcontact 6 whenthe toggle 18,

119 is sli htly overset, therebylocking the 'switcho-c osed. Owing tothe elasticity of therlaminated bridging contact 6, a good contact issecured when the switchis locked, although-thepressure upon the bridgingcontact is decreased after the toggle passes the center. If there shouldbe an overload upon the .circuit when the circuit is finally closed bymeans of the bridging contact 6, the overload coil 23 would beenergized, bringing the trip pin 27 into engagement with the end of thelatch 36 andmoving this latch out of engagement with the toe 35 so as topermit the toggle 20, 21, to collapse, thereby opening thecircuit-breaker.

If it be desired to open the circuit by hand, the handle 22 is moved inthe direction of the arrow 1) in Fig.2, and as the toggle 18, 19, isslightlyoverset when the bridging contact 6 is in operative position,the handle 22 moves a short'distance before the bridging contact .6 beins to separate from the fixed contacts. The first portion of themovement of the operating handle 22 to open the circuit results instraightening the toggle from its overset-position andthereby bringingthe bridging contact 6 into firmer engagement with the fi-Xed contacts.This movement is permitted, however, by the elasticity of the bridgingcontact '6 -which yields slightly when the toggle is straightened andhas sufficient elastlcity to maintain good contact with the fixedcontacts even when the toggle 18, 19, is over the center to theextentpermitted by the stop 33. When the switch was closed, however, bymeans of the operating handle 22, the circuit-breaker had already beenclosed and-the latch 36 was in the position shown in Fig. 2. At theconclusion of the movement of the-operating handle, to close the switch,the lug 30 on the sleeve 28 passed-over the lug 38 without moving thelatch'36 owin to the elasticityof the springblade 39. W en the operatinghandle 22 is first moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5, thelug 30 engages with the lug 38 and the slight movement of the operatinghandle necessary to straighten out the toggle 18, 19, preparatory tomoving the bridging contact 6 out of engagement, is sufiicient to movethe latch 36 away from the toe 35, thereby tripping the circuit-breakeropen. As a result of this arrangement, it is impossible to open thecircuit by means of the bridging contact 6. Any attempt to doso willresult in tripping the circuit-breaker open and this is advantageous asthe circuitbreakeropens very quickly and with a minimum of'arcing.

The operationof the form of device disclosed-in Figs. 7 and 8 issubstantially the same as that of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Theoperating handle 55 is moved in one direction with the shoulders 56 inengagement with the shoulders 57 and 58.

This movement straightens the toggle 53, 54c, sets the circuit-breaker.The movement of the operating handle 55 in the opposite directionstraightens the toggle 51, 52, and closes the circuit between the fixedcontacts 40 and 41. M an overload exists upon the circuit, the overloadcoil attracts the latch 61 and trips the circuit-breaker open. If anattempt is made to open the circuit by means of the handle 55, the lug 5engages with the lug 53, moves the latch 61 out of engagement with thetoe 60 and trips the circuit-breaker open.

/l hile T have shown one form of device embodying my invention, it isevident that many changes and modifications may be made therein whichare within the scope of my invention; and T therefore do not limit theannexed claims to the specific device illustrated and described, butdesire to cover all modifications and substitutions which come Withinthe spirit and scope of my in vention.

What T claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is,-

l. The combination with two circuit con trolling devices, a manuallycontrolled operating member and connections between said member and eachof said devices for operating said devices, of means whereby thepreliminary operation of said operating member to open one of saiddevices causes the other device to open.

The combination with two circuit controlling devices connected inseries, out a force multiplying operating mechanism for each of saiddevices, an abutment held in definite relation to said devices to resistthe thrust exerted by said mechanism, and an operating handle having arigid connection with one of said mechanisms and a lost motionconnection with the other mechanism.

3. The combination with a switch ahd a circuit breaker automaticallyopened when conditions on the circuit are abnormal, of an actuatingtoggle for said switch, an actuating toggle for said circuit breaker, anabutment for resisting the strain due to the straightening of saidtoggles, and an operating handle for straightening said toggles having arigid connection with one toggle and a lost motion connection with theother toggle.

4c- The combination with a switch anda circuit. breaker, of a stationaryabutment, a switch actuating toggle and a circuit breaker actuatingtoggle, each having one end con-, nected tosaid abutment, and anoperating handle having a rigid connection with said switch actuatingtoggle and a lost motion connection witlrsaid circuit breaker actuatingtoggle. I 5. The combination with two circuit controlling devicesconnected in series, of a stat onary abutmentmounted adjacent saiddesemen vices, an actuating toggle between each of said devices and saidabutment and an operating handle for said toggles having a rigidconnection with one toggle and a lost motion connection with the othertoggle whereby said toggles may be straightened in succession.

6. The combination with two circuit controlling devices connected inseries, of an abutment, an actuating tog le between each of said devicesand said abutment and a piv oted operating handle having a lost motionconnection with the toggle of the first device whereby said. toggle isstraightened and the first device is closed when said handle is v rockedin one direction, said handle having rigid connection with the thertoggle whereby the second device is closed as said handle rocks in theother direction and leaves said first device tree to open.

7. The combination with a circuit breaker arranged to open the circuitupon the occurrence of abnormal conditions and a switch connected inseries with said circuit breaker, of an actuating toggle for the switch,an. actuating toggle for said circuit breaker, an abutment for resistingthe thrust due to the straightening of the said toggles, and anoperating handle pivoted on said abutment and having a rigid connectionwith one toggle and a lostmotion connection with the other toggle.

8. The combination with a switch and circuit breaker mounted side byside, of a switch actuating toggle, circuit breaker actuating toggle, astationary rod for supporting the outer ends of said toggles andresisting the thrust due to the straightening of said toggles, and anoperating handle pivotally mounted on said rod, said handle having arigid connection with one oi said toggles and a lost motion connectionwith the other toggle.

9. In a circuit-controlling device, the combination of a switch and acircuit-breaker mounted side by side and connected in series, anoperating handle, a power-multiplying connection between said handle andsaid switch, a sleeve loosely mounted near said circuit-breaker, apower-multiplying connection between said sleeve and saidcircuitbreaker, and a lost-motion connection between said handle andsaid sleeve, whereby a movement of the handle in one direction closesthe circuit-breaker and leaves the switch open, and a movement in theother direction leaves the circuit-breaker closed and closes the switch.

10. A circuit having a plurality of breaks in series therein, anautomatic switch for closing one of said breaks which opens quickly whentripped, a switch for closing another break, operating means for saidswitch and connections whereby a-movement of said operating means toopen the switch w eev,44a

trips open the automatic switch before the switch is opened.

11f A plurality of circuit-controlling de vices in serles, trippingmeans for causing one of said devices to open quickly, operating meansfor the other devices, and means controlled by said operating meansfor'actuating said tripping means before the circuit is opened by saidoperating means.

12. In a circuit controlling device, the

combination with a switch and a circuitwhen the handle is moved to openthe switch.

14. In a circuit controlling device, the combination with a switch and acircuitbreaker connected in series in a. circuitand having a commonoperating handle, of a latch for the circuit-breaker and a catch oroperative upon movement of the handle to open the switch for connectingthe handle to said latch.

15. In a circuit controlling device, the combination with a switch and acircuitbreaker connected in series in a circuit and having a commonoperating handle, of a latch for the circuit-breaker, and cotiperatinglugs on the latch and the handle, one of said lugs being yieldinglymounted, whereby the lugs engage to trip the circuit-breaker when thehandle is moved to open the switch and slip by each other when thehandle is moved to close the switch.

' In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of A.ril, 1906.

. ED IN JOHNSON,

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN Onronn.

